One foot in front of the other

Well sometimes when you serve on the mission field, or really at any and all stages of life, you get a real hodge-podge of "stuff".

We have been reminded many times lately of Proverbs 19:21 "Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." Amen to that and our God is good!  And it is a daily reminder that every goal and purpose we have is only to bring HIM Glory.  Our daily to-do lists sometimes are different than that of the Lord's.  When we keep our eyes set on knowing and serving Jesus, everything else that needs to fall into place does. 

We have had more sickness in our family in the last month than we've had in a long time.  Don't worry, we're shaping up fine and I'll spare you the pretty details.  We spend most of our time raising kids, working in clinics, and doing various and sundry tasks that have to be done in order to get the hospital in working condition (there are lots of these).  In Guatemala, you can't just call the car guy or the roadwork guy when the power steering goes out or the road washes out from in front of the clinic, for instance.  So, lots of hours get nibbled up doing these odds and ends.  

We're thankful to have met lots of really great people down here. The kids are doing well and have made great friends.  April and I have spent quite a bit of time in clinic.  When we're not in clinic, we are usually homeschooling the kids.  I think Abbi has hit her stride finally with that and the boys are getting the hang of phonics.  I've been doing some teaching sessions with the nurses at the hospital. They are young but have excellent potential and are bright, kind people (they are very patient with my broken Spanish).  Getting to know them better has been a highlight of our time here.  We've been covering riveting topics such as IV fluids and Diabetes.  More to come!

                               A precious child eating corn on her mom's back.                            

                                                                                                   

Casting a newborn with clubbed foot.  We are very grateful for the funds from the EV Free Church in Charles City, IA which purchased a cast saw and was in God's perfect timing for this little one.

Dr. Luís and our team helping to fix the road in front of the Chiminisijuan Clinic.  We provide an outreach clinic weekly here, and in the rainy season the roads become very difficult to travel.  A couple weeks ago, during a downpour we actually were stuck (the truck was literally stuck in the mud) and we had to wait out the rains and for our "rescue" vehicle to be able to arrive.

Abbi playing chess with friends!

A rare family photo (with not so rare funny faces) - will we ever have a normal family photo, I'm beginning to have my doubts.... what is 'normal' anyways!!!

Abbi and I making Chicken Tikka Masala and home made naan - delicious!

Peter and I doing wound care on a patient with chronic wounds from a disease called Scleroderma.  The deformity and necrotic digits are a complication from this disease called Sclerodactyly.  We happened to be visiting when April was seeing Pediatric patients and were able to help out.  Shorts and flip flops are not our usual clinic attire!

There are many items that have been provided for the hospital to serve and care for the patients.  This walking boot and crutches are just one example of these blessings!

The nurses have become big fans of James (Santiago or "Santi" for short!)

The kids are enjoying learning Spanish and working on crafts with our friend María.

We are blessed to have an above ground pool on the compound.  The kids really enjoy getting cooled off on a hot day.  Look out swim team, here they come!  We loved getting to know a sweet couple, Martha and Tom, from Texas during their stay here.  They come every couple of years to service and certify the airplanes.  Their passion for the Lord and stories were so encouraging!  And it was nice to have some "Grandma and Grandpa" love for the kids :-)  We do miss our family greatly and are always thankful for the 'family' God gives us while here.

"We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need.  May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father.  He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light.  For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins."

Colossians 1:11-14

A Little Bit of Everything (our life in photos)...

In the last few weeks since our previous update, a lot has gone on.  We had the great pleasure of hosting some dear friends from Iowa.  We ran eye clinics here in Canillá as well as San Andres.  You can see some of the happy recipients of glasses in the photos below.  A LOT of glasses were given out.  The most remarkable were those (both young and old) who had seen so poorly for so long that they really lit up when looking through a new pair of glasses.  It really was heart warming.

Abbi and her friend Keziah had a nice time with us at the clinic in San Andres, handing out coloring pages and crayons to the other kiddos waiting to be seen in clinic.  They also got a chance to go hang out with the kids at the local orphanage.  I think they enjoyed showing off their nail painting skills as much as the kids enjoyed getting their nails painted.

James is happy 99% of the time.  He turns 1 year old this month - where has the time gone???!!

I would be the big white guy.  I'm usually at least 2 feet taller than the patients.  Hide-and-seek is difficult here.

Our optometrist friend Riley fitting a little girl with glasses.  Not only was the team able to run many eye clinics while here, but he also held an afternoon of training the nurses at the hospital.  They learned how to use the auto-refractor and find which glasses a patient might need.  This is one of our goals of working in the hospital here in Guatemala, not only to provide medical care but to train nurses and eventually medical students.

We found a huge frog in the backyard.  The boys had a good time with it.  Abbi was a little less excited.

 The local market - Fridays and Saturdays.  Our shopping list usually consists of mangos, bananas, papaya, pineapple, tomatoes, onions, lettuce, carrots, broccoli, watermelon, cantaloup, avocado, limes, green beans, potatoes, oranges, apples, strawberries, cilantro, jalapeños.... the list goes on.  

The hospital continues to come together...

 John 10:10 "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

Colossians 1:11 "And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus."

Ephesians 3:20 "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever, Amen!" 

We spent a day at Mariposita - a local facility that cares for special needs children - doing a whirlwind eye clinic.  James (also known as Santiago here locally - or Santi for short) made friends with a few of the workers there.  He especially tends to make friends wherever we go.

We are blessed with wonderful nurses and staff and lots of precious pediatric patients.  The children are enjoying these knit hats, which were lovingly made by one of the teachers at our kids' school back in Iowa.  Thank you Mrs. Ovel!

April and one of our patients hamming it up for a selfie :-)  We try to take turns at the clinics when the kid's schedules allow....

There's no better way to beat the heat than fresh squeezed orange juice and a hammock!

Well, that pretty much sums things up.  We'll keep you updated as time goes on!